GLIDE n° EP-2011-000074-COG
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation’s disaster response system and increases the ability of National Societies to respond to disasters.
Summary: CHF 292,511 was allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 29 June 2011 to support the Congolese Red Cross in delivering assistance to some 1.5 million people, on the basis of 700,000 beneficiaries in Brazzaville, 500,000 in Pointe Noire and 300,000 in Pool.
A chikungunya outbreak hit the cities of Brazzaville, Pointe Noire and Pool in the Republic of Congo in May 2011, with up to 900 cases reported in Brazzaville alone. IFRC facilitated the allocation of DREF funds to support the Congolese Red Cross in responding to the situation. Through this allocation, the National Society trained and equipped 300 volunteers on epidemic and chikungunya management, who then proceeded to conduct sensitization activities to the targeted communities in the affected areas.
All the activities planned for this operation have been carried out, and this contributed to stopping the spread of chikungunya, as well as strengthening the operational capacities of the Congolese Red Cross.
All activities planned were implemented according, and a total of CHF 253,659 was utilized in this operation. A balance of CHF 38,852 will be returned to DREF.
The major donors and partners of DREF include the Australian, American and Belgian governments, the Austrian Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross and government, Danish Red Cross and government, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), the Irish and the Italian governments, the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Luxembourg government, the Monaco Red Cross and government, the Netherlands Red Cross and government, the Norwegian Red Cross and government, the Spanish Government, the Swedish Red Cross and government, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Medtronic and Z Zurich Foundations, and other corporate and private donors.
IFRC, on behalf of the Congolese Red Cross, would like to thank all donors for their generous contributions.